Folding table



Sep 1 1929- G. KRESS ET AL FOLDING TABLE Filed March 8, 1928 Q el/y/aaxow EFTKTE55 EEZZEZZIEF Patented Sept 'lO, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENroFri Application filed March 8,

This invention pertains to improvements in folding tables and has primarily for its ob ject to provide a simple, inexpensive, and eflicient brace for rigidly locking the folding legs in operative position and frictionally holding'the same in collapsed position.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object is to provide novel and effective means for slidably attaching and guiding the brace on the table leg.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within 2 the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment ofthe present invention constructed according to the best mode so far clevised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary section through a portion of a table constructed in accordance with the present invention, showingthe' foldable leg in closed position;

Figure 2 is a detailed elevation illustrating the leg extended to operative position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail with parts in section to moreclearly illustrate the locking means; i a c Figure 4 is a similar view showing the relative position of the parts in an intermediate position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing one of the table legs collapsed;

Figure 6 is a section through the table leg in operative position; and

Figure 7 is a similar section illustrating the relative position of the parts in collapsed or intermediate position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein the invention is illustrated as applied to the conventional structure of card table, the numeral 1 designates war Serial No. 260,165." 7

a table top: provided with ae enaing sid rails 2 secured thereto in any suitable manner. I

Obviously the table is provided with four folding'legs 3, but for the purposeof illustration', only a portion of thetable and one, legisshown.

The leg 3 is pivotally secured to the tableby GEORGE KRESS AND EMIL BUEHRER, or GREEN, BAY, Wisconsin.

means of a pintle 4 carried by one of the side rails 12and a cooperating bracket 5 secured to the adgacent side rail. To provideclearance for the bracing mechan1s1n,the leg 3'is spaced from its adjacent side rail 2 by means,

of a spacing washer 4; For the purpose of bracing the leg 3 in extended operative position, a brace 6 is pivoted to the side rail 2' adjacent the leg at a point slightly distant from the pintle 4L. Thebrace 6 is formed from'resilient material and provided with a key-hole slot 7 having an enlarged opening 8 in its lower end. The top portion of the brace snugly engages the inner side of the side rail, while the lower portion is offset for apurpose to be hereinafter described;

Secured to the leg 3 on its outer face adja r cent the side rail2 is a pin 9 provided with a head 10 and a shank of the same diameter asthe width ofthe restricted part of the key-. hole slot 7; Spaced inwardly from the head i 10 is an enlarged collar 11 of a diameter equal tothe enlarged opening 8 of the key-hole slot 7 in the brace 6. Pivotally mounted on the, pin 9 between the enlarged 'collarll and the face of the leg, is a clip 12 pro vided with side flanges 13' for engaging the sides of the brace 6 to slidably guide the same in alignment with the pin 9, thus relieving a certain portion'of the strain on the pin and preventing wear between the pin and sides of the key-hole slot through which the pin projects.

To open the table, the leg is merely swung downwardly, the shank of the pin 9 between the head and enlarged port-ion 11 travelling in the restricted portion of the key-hole slot 7. When the leg reaches its extended operative position, the tension provided by offsetting the lower portion of the brace, will force the enlarged opening 8 over the enlarged portion 11 provided on the shank, thus securely and rigidly locking the shank and brace in i the brace to release the enlarged portion 11 operative extended position. To collapse the leg, it is merely necessary to exert a slight outward pressure upon the lower portion of of the pin 9 from the opening 8, and then swing the leg upwardly.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that a very simple and rigid structure has been provided, which is not subject to wear or disalignment, as is common, in many tables of this type.

It will also be seen that the mode of operation materially facilitates collapsing or extending of the table legs, in that it avoids cumbersome and awkward operation. The,

latching of the leg may be termed automatic as the clip 12 guides the brace in alignment with the pin '9, thuscavusing the brace to snap into locking engagement with the en ,larged portion of the pin when the opening 8 registers with the same.

It will also be appreciated that the method of slidably attaching the brace to the table leg is extremely simple, in that the latching in 9, in addition to preventing detachment of the brace from the leg, also carries the clip, which guides the brace and prevents wear on the sides of the key-hole slot or the We claim: A table provided table, a brace pivoted to theltable and proportion in said key-hole slot to lock saidsaid pin.

In testimony'that we claim the foregoing vided with a key-hole slot, said brace have ing an ofiset lower portion resiliently urged toward said leg, a pin carried by said leg and projecting through said, slot, an enlarged portion on said pin for engaging the enlarged brace and leg against. relative movement when in operative position and a clip pivotally carried on said pin and provided with side flanges for engaging the edges of said brace to guide the same in alignment with we have hereunto set our hands at Green Bay, in the county, of Brown and State of 'lVisconsin. r V V GEORGE, KRESS.

EMIL BUEHRER.

, with f oldable legs, each, comprising a legpivotally carried by the- 

